Top 12 Must-Try Maharashtrian Breakfast Delights

When it comes to breakfast, Maharashtrian cuisine offers a delightful array of flavourful and wholesome dishes that will kickstart your day with energy and taste. From light and crispy snacks to hearty meals packed with nutrition, a Marathi breakfast is a perfect blend of tradition and taste. Whether you're craving the comforting flavours of Maharashtrian breakfast dishes or looking to explore regional specialities, there's something for everyone to enjoy. In this guide, we bring you the top 12 must-try Maharashtrian breakfast delights that are sure to make your mornings delicious and satisfying!

Here is a list of the Top 12 Maharashtrian breakfast items that you must try.

1. Kanda Batata Poha
2. Misal Pav
3. Farali Thalipeeth
4. Dadpe Pohe
5. Pav Bhaji
6. Puran Poli
7. Vada Pav
8. Ghavan
9. Upma
10. Rava Sheera
11. Chawal Bhakri
12. Sabudana Khichdi 

Kanda Batata Poha

A staple in every Marathi breakfast, Kanda Batata Poha is a flavourful dish made with flattened rice, onions (kanda), and potatoes (batata). It’s quick to prepare, light on the stomach, and packed with simple yet delicious flavours. The dash of lemon and sprinkle of coriander makes it a refreshing start to the day, while peanuts add a delightful crunch. Perfect for a healthy and satisfying breakfast, this dish is loved by all in Maharashtra.

Nutrient Content:

Kanda Batata Poha is a balanced Marathi breakfast option, offering around 250-300 calories per serving. It’s rich in carbohydrates, moderate in protein and healthy fats, and provides fibre and vitamins like Vitamin C and B, along with essential minerals such as iron and potassium.

Best Served With: Kanda Batata Poha pairs perfectly with a side of fresh coconut chutney, a cup of hot ginger tea, or even a dash of spicy green chilli chutney for an extra kick. Some also enjoy it with a bowl of yoghurt to add a creamy touch to the dish.

Misal Pav

A spicy and flavourful dish, Misal Pav is a popular choice for a hearty Maharashtrian breakfast. It consists of a spicy curry made from sprouted moth beans (misal), topped with crunchy farsan (fried Savory mixture), onions, coriander, and a squeeze of lemon. Served with pav (soft bread rolls), this dish is a burst of flavours and textures in every bite. Misal Pav is loved for its fiery taste and is perfect for those looking for a filling and exciting start to their day.

Nutrient Content:

Misal Pav is a nutrient-dense Maharashtrian breakfast, offering around 300-350 calories per serving. It is rich in protein from the sprouted beans, provides a good amount of carbohydrates from the pav, and contains healthy fats from the farsan and oil used in the curry. The dish is also a good source of fibre, vitamins like Vitamin C and B, and essential minerals such as iron, magnesium, and potassium.

Best Served With: Misal Pav is best enjoyed with a side of cool buttermilk or yoghurt to balance the spiciness. A hot cup of chai or a refreshing glass of lime soda also complements the flavours, making it a complete and satisfying meal.

Farali Thalipeeth

Farali Thalipeeth is a delicious and nutritious flatbread often enjoyed during fasting days, but it’s also a popular choice for Maharashtrian breakfast items. Made from a blend of flours like rajgira (amaranth), singhada (water chestnut), and sabudana (tapioca pearls), this dish is flavoured with mashed potatoes, green chillies, cumin, and fresh coriander. It is lightly spiced and pan-fried to a crispy texture, making it a perfect morning meal that's both satisfying and healthy.

Nutrient Content:

Farali Thalipeeth is a wholesome Maharashtrian breakfast option, providing around 200-250 calories per serving. It is rich in carbohydrates from the flour and potatoes, offers a moderate amount of protein, and contains healthy fats from the cooking oil. Additionally, it's a good source of fibre, iron, and essential minerals like calcium and magnesium, making it a nutritious option, especially during fasting periods.

Best Served With: Farali Thalipeeth is best enjoyed with a side of cooling yoghurt or fresh coconut chutney. It also pairs well with a glass of sweetened lemon juice or a mild green chutney made from coriander and mint for a refreshing contrast to its earthy flavours.

Dadpe Pohe

Dadpe Pohe is a light and refreshing dish, perfect for a quick Maharashtrian breakfast. Unlike the regular poha, this version uses raw, flattened rice that is mixed with fresh coconut, onions, green chilies, and a tempering of mustard seeds and curry leaves. It’s a no-cook dish, making it an easy, flavourful option with a burst of freshness from the coconut and a slight crunch from the raw poha. Dadpe Pohe is a delightful choice for a light and healthy breakfast.

Nutrient Content:

Dadpe Pohe is a light and nutritious Maharashtrian breakfast, offering around 150-200 calories per serving. It is rich in carbohydrates from the flattened rice, provides fibre from the coconut and onions, and contains healthy fats from the coconut and the tempering oil. Additionally, it offers a good amount of vitamins like Vitamin C and B, along with essential minerals such as potassium and magnesium.

Best Served With: Dadpe Pohe is best enjoyed with a side of fresh coconut chutney or a tangy pickle for added flavour. A hot cup of tea or coffee complements its light and refreshing taste, making it an ideal breakfast combination.

Pav Bhaji

A beloved dish on any Maharashtrian breakfast items list, Pav Bhaji is a spicy, flavourful mashed vegetable curry served with soft buttered pav (bread rolls). The bhaji is cooked with a special mix of spices and is made from a blend of vegetables like potatoes, peas, and tomatoes. Topped with a dollop of butter and garnished with onions, coriander, and lemon juice, Pav Bhaji is a filling and delicious breakfast that packs a punch of flavour in every bite.

Nutrient Content: 

Pav Bhaji offers around 300-400 calories per serving, is rich in carbs from the pav and vegetables, moderate in protein, and contains fats from butter. It’s also a good source of fibre, vitamins, and minerals, making it a tasty yet nutritious breakfast option.

Best Served With: Pav Bhaji is best enjoyed with a side of tangy pickles, a fresh green salad, and a glass of chilled buttermilk or lemon soda to balance the rich flavours.

Puran Poli

A traditional sweet flatbread, Puran Poli is one of the most beloved Maharashtrian breakfast dishes. Made with a soft, whole-wheat dough stuffed with a sweet filling of chana dal (split Bengal gram) and jaggery, it is flavoured with cardamom and nutmeg. Puran Poli is often served during festive occasions and is enjoyed for its rich, sweet taste and soft texture. It's typically served warm with a dollop of ghee, making it a delightful way to start the day.

Nutrient Content: 

Puran Poli provides around 200-250 calories per serving. It is rich in carbohydrates from wheat flour, and jaggery offers a moderate amount of protein from the chana dal, which contains healthy fats from the ghee. This dish also provides fibre, iron, and essential vitamins like B and C, making it a sweet yet nourishing breakfast option.

Best Served With: Puran Poli is best enjoyed with a generous drizzle of ghee or warm milk. Some also like to pair it with a side of amti (a tangy, spicy lentil curry) or sweetened yoghurt for a balanced flavour contrast. 

Vada Pav

Known as the "Indian burger," Vada Pav is a quintessential Marathi breakfast loved by people of all ages. This iconic street food consists of a spicy, deep-fried potato fritter (vada) sandwiched between soft pav (bread rolls), often served with a variety of chutneys—spicy garlic, tangy tamarind, and green chilli. Vada Pav is flavourful and filling and offers a perfect balance of textures with its crispy vada and soft pav, making it a go-to breakfast option in Maharashtra.

Nutrient Content: 

Vada Pav provides around 300-350 calories per serving. It is rich in carbohydrates from the pav and potatoes, offers moderate protein, and contains fats from the deep-fried vada. The dish also provides fibre, iron, and essential vitamins like B and C, making it a tasty yet filling breakfast option.

Best Served With: Vada Pav is best enjoyed with spicy green chilli, tangy tamarind chutney, and a hot cup of chai. It also pairs well with a side of fried green chillies for an extra kick of heat.

Ghavan

Ghavan is a simple and wholesome rice flour pancake popular among Maharashtrian breakfast dishes. Soft and light, it is made with just rice flour and water. It is sometimes flavoured with cumin or served plain. Ghavan is often prepared in the Konkan region of Maharashtra and is loved for its delicate texture and quick preparation. It’s a perfect breakfast choice for a light yet filling meal.

Nutrient Content: 

Ghavan is a light and nutritious breakfast, providing around 150-200 calories per serving. It is rich in carbohydrates from rice flour, offers a small amount of protein, and contains minimal fats. Ghavan is also gluten-free and easy to digest, making it a healthy choice for a simple breakfast.

Best Served With: Ghavan is best enjoyed with coconut chutney, jaggery, or spicy green chutney. It also pairs well with a bowl of warm, mildly spiced curry or vegetable stew for a heartier meal.

Upma

Upma is a popular and comforting Marathi breakfast dish made from semolina (rava) and flavoured with mustard seeds, curry leaves, green chillies, and vegetables. This Savory dish is quick to prepare and offers a soft, fluffy texture with a subtle balance of spices. Upma is both filling and light, making it a go-to breakfast for many households across Maharashtra.

Nutrient Content: 

Upma provides around 200-250 calories per serving. It is rich in carbohydrates from semolina, offers moderate protein, and contains healthy fats from the tempering of mustard seeds and oil. It’s also a good source of fibre, vitamins like B and C, and essential minerals such as iron and magnesium, making it a nutritious and balanced breakfast.

Best Served With: Upma is best enjoyed with coconut chutney or a side of tangy pickle. A cup of hot tea or coffee complements its flavours perfectly, making for a satisfying breakfast. 

Rava Sheera

Rava Sheera, also known as suji halwa, is a sweet and comforting dish often featured in the Maharashtrian breakfast list. Made from semolina (rava), ghee, and sugar and flavoured with cardamom, this dessert-like breakfast is soft, rich, and aromatic. Sometimes garnished with nuts like cashews and raisins, Rava Sheera is a delightful dish that brings warmth and sweetness to the morning meal.

Nutrient Content: 

Rava Sheera provides around 250-300 calories per serving. It is rich in carbohydrates from the semolina and sugar, contains healthy fats from the ghee, and offers a moderate amount of protein. The dish also provides essential vitamins like B and minerals such as iron and magnesium, making it a sweet yet energising breakfast option.

Best Served With: Rava Sheera is best enjoyed on its own, but it can also be paired with a glass of warm milk or a cup of chai for a comforting breakfast experience. Some also enjoy it with a light, savoury dish like poha for a balanced meal.

Chawal Bhakri

Chawal Bhakri is a simple yet wholesome flatbread made from rice flour and is popular in rural parts of Maharashtra. This traditional Maharashtrian breakfast is soft, gluten-free, and pairs well with a variety of accompaniments. It’s especially enjoyed for its light texture and is often a preferred breakfast option in the Konkan region. Easy to make and highly satisfying, Chawal Bhakri is perfect for those seeking a healthy and filling morning meal.

Nutrient Content: 

Chawal Bhakri provides around 150-200 calories per serving. It is rich in carbohydrates from rice flour, contains minimal fat, and offers a small amount of protein. Being gluten-free, it’s easy to digest and also provides essential minerals like magnesium and iron, making it a healthy breakfast option.

Best Served With: Chawal Bhakri is best enjoyed with a side of spicy chutney, coconut chutney, or a light curry. It also pairs well with a bowl of curd or a dollop of homemade butter for a simple yet flavourful breakfast.

Sabudana Khichdi

Sabudana Khichdi is a popular choice among Maharashtrian breakfast dishes, especially during fasting periods. Made from soaked tapioca pearls (sabudana) and flavoured with cumin, green chillies, and peanuts, this dish has a unique, chewy texture and is both light and satisfying. Garnished with fresh coriander and a squeeze of lemon, Sabudana Khichdi is a flavourful and nutritious breakfast that offers a perfect blend of taste and nutrition.

Nutrient Content: 

Sabudana Khichdi provides around 250-300 calories per serving. It is rich in carbohydrates from the tapioca pearls, contains moderate protein from peanuts, and offers healthy fats from the tempering. The dish is also a good source of fibre and essential minerals like potassium and magnesium and provides energy while being easy on the stomach.

Best Served With: Sabudana Khichdi is best enjoyed with a side of cooling yoghurt or fresh coconut chutney. A glass of buttermilk or lime juice complements the dish, adding a refreshing touch to this Savory breakfast.

Maharashtrian cuisine offers a delightful variety of flavourful and nutritious options, making Marathi breakfast both satisfying and wholesome. The list of Maharashtrian breakfast items showcases a blend of tradition and taste, perfect for starting your day. These Maharashtrian breakfast dishes provide a great mix of textures, flavours, and nutrition, ensuring a delicious morning experience. From light snacks to hearty meals, each dish reflects the rich cultural heritage and culinary expertise of Maharashtra. Indulge in these breakfast delights to truly Savor the essence of Marathi cuisine.